Seeing Qiu Hu's puzzled expression, Li Chenjiao didn't explain further. She continued counting on her fingers, "Not only that, your master is also craving braised pork knuckle right now. You should order it for her tomorrow too. Also, I've been craving dumplings lately. I want to try the three-delicacy kind, the mushroom kind, your master."
Li Chenjiao had eaten dumplings several times during the Lunar New Year, but now she was craving them again.
"Dumplings and wontons are fine, but I probably won't be able to eat lunch tomorrow. Please have the kitchen prepare breakfast. I really want to eat tofu. Please also have a crucian carp and tofu soup for lunch. Chef Guo always makes this dish so delicious and fragrant. Also, please make some fried tofu for breakfast so I can eat it with the wontons to warm my stomach."
It was the middle of the night, and as Li Chenjiao talked, she herself started to feel hungry.
After listening, Qiu Hu figured it out. She smiled and thought to herself that her master was indeed resourceful. No matter what, this wouldn't be considered breaking the rules.
Li Chenjiao went to bed a little late that night. After she and Qiu Hu finished giving instructions about what to eat the next day, she was actually quite hungry. There were still some sweet potatoes in the small kitchen, which Lvzhu had saved to cook into sweet potato porridge for the Second Princess the next day.
In the end, it all ended up in Li Chenjiao's belly.
Oh, even Green Bamboo couldn't resist trying half of the roasted sweet potato.
After finishing her meal, Li Chenjiao commented, "This sweet potato would definitely make a great porridge, but roasting it now makes it less soft, sticky, and sweet."
After having a late-night snack, Li Chenjiao went to bed late and woke up late.
Breakfast in the East Courtyard was always brought by the maids and servants of the East Courtyard, since they couldn't let their master eat cold breakfast when he got up.
When Li Chenjiao got up, the Fourth Prince had already eaten breakfast and taken his medicine. The physician came to change the Fourth Prince's ointment.
The Fourth Master had a bruise on his back from being used as a shield. The training ground wasn't flat either; when he was dodging the runaway horse, pebbles got into his clothes, causing a lot of bloodstains.
These past few nights, Fourth Master has been resting on his side.
After having breakfast, the Fourth Prince did not rest. After all, there was still a lot of work to be done at the Ministry of Revenue every day. With the arrival of spring, there was the assessment of last year's taxes and the annual land survey, all of which were important.
Fourth Master was helped to a soft couch by Su Peisheng, who had gone to the Ministry of Revenue early this morning to retrieve the official documents.
Fourth Master spent half the morning reviewing official documents. It was Su Peisheng who, concerned for his master's health, took the opportunity while serving warm water to offer some advice.
Tea is cooling in nature, so Su Peisheng consciously switched to warm water.
After finishing his official duties, Fourth Master put down his pen and asked, "How is the backyard?"
Su Peisheng had anticipated this, and answered very clearly: "The Fujin sent someone over once, but the master was busy at the time, so I had them sent away as instructed. The things that were sent were all kept as instructed. The tonics and medicinal herbs have been put into the storeroom and registered. In addition, the Fujin also sent a plate of hawthorn cake, saying it was to whet the master's appetite."
This is quite rare. The princess usually likes to send soupy or brothy dishes, but this time she went to great lengths to send appetizing cakes.
The Fourth Master nodded, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Bring it here."
Su Peisheng waved his hand, and Fu Lu, who was standing by, hurried away.
He continued, "Princess Song also came once, and she even cried."
The Fourth Prince had previously instructed that the women of the inner courtyard should not send soup or other liquids to the front courtyard, so Madam Song did not bring any food. However, she asked Su Peisheng to give the Fourth Prince some kind of sachet for good luck.
However, the Fourth Prince's personal items were always given to him by the women in his harem.
Sure enough, when Fourth Master heard what Su Peisheng said, he simply told Su Peisheng to put the things away.
Su Peisheng continued, unfazed, "I heard that Consort Wu caught a cold, but she still sent her maid over. The same goes for Consort Bai."
These two have never received any special favor, and now they're even less inclined to approach.
"Everything is fine with Master Li."
Su Peisheng didn't want to bring up Master Li of the East Courtyard again, because there really wasn't any movement from Master Li of the East Courtyard.
This is an indisputable fact; no matter how eloquent he is, he can't come up with anything convincing.
Fourth Master wasn't too surprised. He glanced at the sky outside and calmed down a bit.
"Go to the kitchen later and ask your Master Li in the East Courtyard what he ordered for breakfast and lunch."
Oh dear, Su Peisheng just couldn't figure it out.
The Fourth Master who brought gifts didn't ask many questions, but the Fourth Master who didn't bring gifts was the one who asked questions first.
However, Su Peisheng also knew that this matter was selective in terms of who could be sent. For example, Miss Xu didn't send anyone, did she? But did Fourth Master mention it at all?
People are just different from each other.
It's not noon yet, but it's time to go to the kitchen to prepare lunch for the masters.
In the backyard, the primary focus was naturally on the First Prince and Consort Li. The eldest prince from Consort Wu's household and the eldest princess from Consort Song's household were both past the age of needing wet nurses, so the kitchen staff dared not neglect them.
Although Xu was only a concubine who was supporting the Third Prince, the kitchen staff did not dare to neglect her as before. Bai Jia and Xu's meals were usually served one after the other.
Xu was well-mannered and discreet, always waiting for Bai Jia's maids to fetch the food first before sending someone else to fetch it herself.
The main courtyard and the east courtyard both had their own food delivered by the kitchen staff. However, Master Li of the east courtyard liked to eat different kinds of food, so often it was the maids and servants in their courtyard who would bring the meals.
Su Peisheng entrusted this matter to Fulu. On the way, they encountered a man carrying food towards the East Courtyard, followed by a young eunuch. The eunuch looked unfamiliar and was probably a servant from the kitchen. Fulu noticed that he was also carrying a food box.
That's convenient; Fu Lu asked along the way, also to give face to Master Li of the East Courtyard.
Xiao Luzi returned to the East Courtyard and indeed told his master everything.
Li Chenjiao nodded in satisfaction and waved her hand, "Let's eat. It smells delicious."
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